Galapagos invasive species:Glossary

Glossary of terms used in this site

Biodiversity: Ecological diversity, and the diversity of native and endemic species in all their variability of subspecies, races, geographically distinct populations, and genetic diversity in general.

Biological control: Strategy of pest control in which live natural enemies, antagonists, competitors, or other biological entities capable of reproduction are used.

Biological control agent: Natural enemy, antagonist, competitor, or other biological entity capable of reproduction used to control pests.

Biological pesticide: A general term which is applied to a biological control agent, normally a pathogen or micro-organism, formulated and applied in a way similar to a chemical pesticide, and used for the rapid reduction of a pest population in a short-term control programme.

Biosecurity: Protection of all natural resources from biological invasion and threats.

Bug: Used here in the general sense of any invertebrate, and specifically referring to insects.

CDF: Charles Darwin Foundation. The Charles Darwin Foundation (and the Charles Darwin Research Station) is an international research organisation.

Control: The suppression or containment of a population of pests; a continuous activity.

Emergency response plan: Development of strategies to be implemented when a new plant
or animal infestation, or infection by a pest or disease is detected.

Endemic: A species or organism with a restricted range and which does not occur anywhere else. Many species in Galapagos are endemic to
specific islands or volcanoes. Endemism is the characteristic of being
endemic.

Eradication: Application of measures to totally eliminate a pest or weed from an area, where the risk of re-infestation is minimal or zero.

GNP: Galapagos National Park. Depending on context, this can refer to the organisation,
the Galapagos National Park, which is responsible for managing the terrestrial
and marine protected areas, or to the Galapagos National Park itself.

INGALA: Galapagos National Institute. INGALA is the regional planning body.

Introduced: A species or organism which arrives and establishes as a result of human activities. Some introduced species are also invasive (See “Invasive”).

Introduction: The entry of a pest or weed which results in its establishment.

Invasive: Introduced species or organism which causes damage to biodiversity, agricultural production or human health.

Monitoring: A formal process whereby information is acquired and recorded from surveys, checks or other procedures related to the presence or absence of a pest, weed or disease.

Native: A species or organism which arrives and establishes in a site by natural processes.

Organism: See “Species or organism”.

Pathogen: A microbiological organism which causes disease in animals, plants or people.

Pest: A common name for an animal (vertebrate or invertebrate), plant or disease which adversely affects the native animals and plants of Galapagos, agricultural production, or human health and well-being.

Pest risk analysis: Evaluation of the risk of introduction or invasion of pests, and management of pest risk.

Quarantine: All activities directed at preventing the introduction and/or spread of
quarantine pests, or to ensure their control. Quarantine is a package of activities or legal measures imposed on the entry of animals, plants, agricultural products and other organisms and micro-organisms,
including the time they must remain isolated in order to prevent, control or delay the introduction of pests potentially harmful to Galapagos.

Quarantine pest: A pest of potential economic importance for a specific area, the pest in question not occurring in that area, or of restricted distribution and the target of a formal control or eradication programme.

SESA: Ecuadorian Agricultural Health Service. The Provincial office, SESA-Galapagos, is responsible for the inspection and quarantine system of Galapagos, SICGAL.

SICGAL: The Quarantine and Inspection System for Galapagos (SICGAL for its abbreviation in Spanish), executed by the Ecuadorian Agricultural Health Service in Galapagos.

Species or organism: A living thing of any age, and its eggs, sperm, seeds, or any portion of a plant or animal which has the ability to live or propagate itself. The definition includes plants, fungi, animals and micro-organisms.

Surveillance: A formal process whereby information is acquired and recorded from surveys, checks or other procedures related to the presence or absence of a pest, weed or disease.

Vertebrate: An animal with a backbone, such as goats, rats, cats, birds, fish, snakes and tortoises, etc.

Weed: A plant which is causing damage in some way to native or endemic vegetation or ecosystems, or to agricultural production, such as blackberry, quinine, etc.

Weed risk analysis: Evaluation of the risk of introduction or invasion of weeds, and management of weed risk.